Vehicle spring



Oct. m21 1952 W. H. GODFREY VEHICLE SPRING 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 16, 1949 WIIIIA 55 INVENTOR. 17V. ff, 6,0 e y ATTORNEYS 06f- 21, 1952 w. H. GoDFRr-:Y 2,614,832

Filed May 16, 1949 VEHICLE SPRING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 V E as' A' VA 175- I9.. INVENTOR. IgHYo/ms y ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 21, `1952 miranti-Godfrey, netriamcnf `Applicami luay 1e, 1949, serial No. 93,59; f

This ,invention relates to vehicle springs.

r-An object of"`this invention is" to provide in aleafyspring 'structure of the semi-elliptical type, an anti-friction means betweenthe` leaves `of the spring so as to facilitate the movement ofthe spring leaves one relative to the other.

Another object of this invention is to provide an anti-friction means for positioning between the `spring leaves which can `be mounted l on springs at presenttinusathe anti-friction means 'seing in fthe `form of either rollersorballs.

`With the above and otherobjects in View, my invention consistsin the arrangement, combination anddetails of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularlyrpointed out in the appended claims.

In the` drawings: i

`ligure'l is a detail side elevation, partly in secu tion, of a leaf spring structure having anti-fric* tion inserts, constructed according to an embodiment ofthis invention, mounted betweenthe leaves thereof, l

FigureZ is asectionaiview `taken onthe line ,2-201 Fisurel y. Figure 3.15 a,fragmentaryplan view of the in- .sert,.. l

iFigureQll transverse sectional View of a modified forrnlof this invention,

,l 1Figure 5 is a lfragmentary `planfview of `the `modiedform of insert, l, I s t `ligurep` is a detailside elevation, partly bro- 'lgeriyav/ay,` ofanother `form of this invention,

Figure 7-is5aqfragmentary bottom" plan of `the structure shown in Figure 6, l Figure ,Sis sectional view taken on 8-8 of Figure 6,

Figure 9 isfqa fragmentaryzsectional view taken the line `on the line {1 -Soi Figure 6,

Figure 10 isa Sectio IU--I of Figure 8, n l

Figure -11 isV altop `plarl viewfof the structure shownin Figures 6 to 10, f

'a1 View tarea entre une Figureglis a plan viewof thelowermost one ofjthainserts embodied in Figures 6to 10 in \c1usive; N f. l ,i Figurerli is a sectional `viewtaken on vthe line 4-4 of Figure 8,

Figure is a bottom plan view of the lower plate used with the structure shownin `Figures 6 to 14 inclusive,

Figure 16 isa fragmentary side elevation, part- 1y in section, of another modification of this invention,

\ 2 claims. (onzer-#wi `2l' `which are inserted` between thaspring` leaves f' Figurel'l is a sectionalview takenonwthelline iTIMHOfFigUrelG," Y n Y Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional view` taken on the lineS-l 8 of Figure 16, il.

f Figure `19 is asectional View taken on the line `Figure 201 isa fragmentary side elevationof anothermodiiication of this invention,` f.:

Figure 21 is a sectional viewtaken on the lin 2I-2l=ofFigure 20. i

`Referring to the drawings and first toFgures 1, 2 and .3, the numerals2 and 2l designate` generally` superposed springleaveathe leaf 2l) vbeing theupperinost le-afiormed with eyes 22 `at the opposite ends thereof. There may be as many ,leaves 2l as may be desired and these leaves are secured" together by means of a king `bolt 23 `threadedly engaging through a. `tie `bar 23a.`

l A .plurality` of `elongated fiat inserts Mare infterposed between the spring leaves 2l :and each insert24 is provided with` transversely extending [and longitudinally spaced `apart `openings `25. A ;pluralitys` of anti-friction `rollers 26 are loosely Lmounted inthe openings 215 and are of a diameter slightly greater than thekthickness lof the inserts .24 so that the insertsla will merely serve as retainers for therollers 2&3` and .will not frictionally lcontactwith the confronting sides or yfacesiof. the

spring leaves 20 and 2 I.

"Referringnow to Figures Land retainers 2Iware formed with at leastakpair `of holes 28,

`and anti-friction balls .2S are loosely niountedin the-holes 28. .li-'The retainers 24 and21 are of` a length substantially equal .to .the length of Vthe adjacent springileaf, `whereas in Figures `6 .tot 15 inclusive? the antifriction retainers are shorter `in length than the length of the springleaf;`

`Referring to `Figures 6v to 15 inclusive, `antii friction retainerstll are inserted "between super- I' posed springleaves :3 t, and an upperlretainer 35a g-is disposed on the upper side `of the upper one @ofi the spring!'leaves*31;v Each `retainertv is "formed with ra pair of transversely extending openings32 within which rollers 33 are adapted "tof loosely `engagefand eachtretainer" 3D visV also formed outwardly ofthe openings 32 with lubricantholding openings 34. Theretainerssuland Y Mall-are held-Lin,V appliedposition by means of "a substantially U-shaped shackle generally desig nated as 35, and whichincludes an upper plate 36 and a pair of right angularly and downwardly projecting arms or bars 31.

The bars or arms 31 adjacent the lower ends thereof are formed with openings 38 through which a pressure bar 39 is adapted to be extended. The pressure bar 39 is formed adjacent the opposite ends thereof with notches 4|] within which the bar 31 is adapted to be received, and the pressure bar 39 is held in pressure applying position by means of a set screw 4| which is threaded through the bar 39 and locked by means of a lock nut 42.

A lower insert or retainer generally designated as 43 is interposed between fthe flower one `of the spring "leaves 44 and the -nextadjacent leaf 3|. The insert or retainer 43 includes a slotted lplate 45 interposed between the spring leaves W4 and 3| and the opposite ends of the retainerjplate 45 are formed with right angular extensions 46 terminating in inwardly bent lugsf4`-11whi`ch pro ject beneath a lower plate 48,

A pair of set screws 49 are threaded through the plate 48 and are adapted to bear againstfit'he lower leaf 44 and are locked by means of lock ;nuts=y50. iThe 4oppcsite-.endsof the retain-ers 30 and 30a are notched as indicated at`5l and '52 respectively: so y that thei retainers v31| and -3|la` will be held against movement Alengthwise of the :springzleaves 13| Ini likerrnanner the lower ,plate 48 is formed with a pair of fnotches53iin .the .cpposi-tesides.:thereon-within which the lugs. 41 are adaptedlto. partially engage sothatlthe'lower plate I1118 will be held against :endwise movement.

With a spring assembly as hereinbefore `de- Iscribe'd, the spring leaves 'may fmore readily flex .one l? relative '.to therother without: undue friction, thereby providing afa' more Iresilient. mounting f for fakvehicle bodytand providing ...a meanstomore 'readily :cushion: the vVehicle against shocks.

Referringanow to fFigures -16 -to 18 inclusive, btherev is disclosedl another` modification: of 'this invention wherein a plurality 4,of rroller :retainer plates, generally designated as 155 .are interposed `lbetweenzthe .spring'leaves 5,6. The'retainers :55 'include .ea .substantially rectangular plate :511

,formed with 1 an :opening '.-58 within vwhich 1.a secondzrem'ovable plateg59lis mounted. .Thegplatei59 4haa-disposed thereacross va .pair of z antie'friction -lmernbersjxin vthefcrm .of rollers, and the;,.pl'ate 2.5.9, has-t extending fromA the-.opposite ends.;;thereof 'a lpairof ,spring-pressed'. pins f6| :engageaible ALin fsocketss62' lcarr-ie`d1by :thel plate 51 satptheffends: vof

the opening 58.

.The plate 51 isf-.alsmprovided lwithzfouterlopem ingsi63 lwithinwhich grease #ortgrea'se :retaining `feltsare adapted-to :be positioned. .The several `:retainers 155 `vare held against lateraltmovement .by-meansof an invertedUfshaped .clamptgenery `tallydesignated-fas 64. ".The clampnt4zincludesaan ,1| f includes naplate, 12 ywhich isgfforrnedewithffa .buttony 1+3 l engageable in the;.upperwconcavezzside fcfpan offset member 14 'which,isfcarriediby-the l"gages an. adjacent I spring-.leafvend. Thelretaner 65 `leaf end15. The plate 1;2 -.has fjdisposedz-v there- 4 across three anti-friction members 16 in the form of rollers, and the plate 12 is also formed adjacent the opposite ends thereof with lubricant retaining openings 11. The plate 12 is provided with a pair of depending wings 18 adjacent the inner end portions of the plate so as to hold the plate 12 against lateral movement with respect to the spring leaf end 15.

Referring now to Figures 20 and 2l, the reltainer'12avhas se'curedrto the'wngs .18a an angleshaped member 119 through the *vertical side of which a lubricant fitting is extended so that fthe lubricant can be forced into the space 8| A.adjacent the outer edge of a spring leaf.

As shown in Figure 16, at each end of a spring 'Jleaf-therefmay be disposed a roller retainer member 1| whichmay be positioned between adjacent clamping members 64. The retainers 1| will be held` .against endwise and lateral movement by means of the button 13;` and the depending wings 13.

.Iv do :not Amean to-zconne Amyself v-to ,the .exact details of construction herein disclosed, `but claim all Variations tfalling Vwithin `.the ,purviewf-.of the appended. claims.

What Il claimis:

,11. rAf spring structure .comprising a plurality of superposed leaf members, .notched .retainers be- ,tweenifad-jacent leafl members, a. U .-,shapedshackle positioned above lthe f uppermost of .-.sa-idv retainers and formed-.withca paircof i downwardlygproiecting legs, the lowermostof .said :retainers `-being formed .with :pairs .of -`rdowlrlyvalwily projecting iarms, a lowerzretainer'plate-havngzouter.notches inwhi'ch said *arms engage, .inwardly projecting lugs Vcarried I .by` said arms `engaging beneathisaid plate, pressure screws threadedtthrough said plate Icompressing said lleaf members, a :pressure 'zbar below said retainer plate, 'means securing l.the ends of-sai'd'barzto saidlegs,andva pressure-screw lthreaded'through sa'i'd 4bar engaging isaid slower retainer plate to compress said leafmembers.

.2. Vrlispring structureI comprisingea plurality of superposed leaf members, notchedretain'ers'be tween adjacent leaf fmem'bers', vthe A-lowermos't of said retainers being formed with pairs of dow-n'- wardly projecting LAarms, fia lower retainer E:plate having outer notches#i1rftrh=ichl` said ar-msengage. inwardly'v-projecting 'lugs :zar1`fied by said alarms engaging in the notchesxdfsaidl lower'f'retainer platetandeengagingbeneath-said plate-below said lea-f members Vvand "pressure fscrews f'threa'ded through -fsaid- #platebearing against said *leaf members.

`"WIEIllAMfI-I. GODFREY.

, REEERENOESCEI'EED The. following. ref erencesiare of record inithe file of'this patent: 

